Kaitlyn O'Malley

Kaitlyn O’Malley is a member of Marist's M.A. in Educational Psychology Class of 2014. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics with a certification in Secondary Education and Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. She is employed by the Valley Central High School
as a 9th and 10th grade Special Education Math teacher.

Tell us about your work history before Marist, including years of experience, industry, companies, and positions.
I came to Marist immediately after I graduated from Mount Saint Mary College. I had worked at a Head Start program for four years as an assistant in the classroom. I have also substituted, tutored, and work at a day camp over the summer.

Why did you choose to pursue your degree at Marist?
Marist has a great reputation for their education program. It was conveniently located and offered a program that was flexible to my work schedule.

Tell us about a project or course that was particularly meaningful to your professional development.
A course I took at Marist, “Instructional Strategies for Middle School Education,” was very meaningful to my professional development. Our professor, Michelle Simonetti, provided use with diverse instructional and curricular techniques and strategies we could use and apply to our middle school classrooms. This course helped me to investigate my own classroom management and organizational techniques and gave me tips and “take-aways” that I could use in my future classroom.

How has a degree from Marist and your course work enhanced your career?
The course work has been very beneficial to my career. I have done several leave replacements in the past couple of years and Marist has given me a ton of strategies, techniques, and information to help better my classes. It also has helped me to create a portfolio that I can bring to interviews.

What advice would you give to a student considering pursuing their master’s degree at Marist?
I highly recommend pursuing your master’s degree at Marist. It will not be an “easy way out” but rather will challenge and push you exactly where you need to be pushed. The different programs are flexible, and the professors are great. If you are a hard worker and have great time management skills you will be a great candidate!

If you took an online class or had online learning as part of a regular course, tell us about your experiences – any tips or suggestions to pass along to future students?
The online classes were great… but you have to make sure you attend any tutorials they may have on Marist’s online program in your first semester. Once you get the hang of it, it is a breeze to work with. Make sure you take the time to learn about the online program since you will be submitting all your work through iLearn. Do not get overwhelmed, just take your time and make sure your time management skills are impeccable!